Eagletarian Blog

Details continue to emerge from witnesses about what happened inside Michael Vick's 30th birthday party in Virginia Beach. It seems like an incident over some birthday cake might have started it all, according to various reports.

Quanis Phillips, one of the Michael Vick's co-conspirators in a dogfighting ring, ended up getting shot in the leg about a half a block away from the club where the party was being held.

"The tension unfolded in the VIP section of the club, near the front entrance, as the party was drawing to a close -- after the group sang Happy Birthday to Vick, and Vick's fiance' Kijafa Frink began feeding him birthday cake.

"That's when Phillips either tapped or slapped Frink's hand, according to the witness, getting frosting on Vick's face. It was unclear to this witness whether the cake smashing was done in jest. The amount of cake or icing that actually touched Vick was said to be minimal.

"But Vick did appear agitated and some words were exchanged.

"Vick and Frink left the club shortly afterward, as did Vick's brother, Marcus Vick, who helped organize the party for Mike, who turned 30 on Saturday."

In some football commentary today, Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole continues his positional rankings with the defensive line.

This is clearly an area of concern for the Eagles as they try to find a pass-rushing option opposite Trent Cole. The Eagles traded up to select Michigan end Brandon Graham with the 13th overall pick in the draft. They also acquired tackle Darryl Tapp from Seattle.

Cole has the Eagles' D-line ranked 13th in the NFL and fourth among the four teams in the NFC East. He has the Giants ranked third, the Cowboys fifth and the Redskins ninth, although Albret Haynesworth's situation will have a big impact there.

Of the Eagles, he writes:

The Eagles have a bunch of lunch-pail guys who don’t seem like much when you look at them individually. End Trent Cole, who is the best of the bunch, is undersized and seemingly not explosive. Tackles Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson aren’t overwhelming. The combo of Darryl Tapp and Juqua Parker on the other side doesn’t make the toes tingle with excitement. But when you put them altogether, they’re really a pretty good group. No stars, but nobody you can sleep on either.

The Eagles claimed rookie safety Brett Johnson from the Buffalo Bills. Johnson had signed as an undrafted free agent with Buffalo. He is represented by J.R. Rickert, who represents a number of Eagles players.